The Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") will affect everyone in the United States one way or another. But some people will be affected more than others. Among these are high income taxpayers. Starting in 2013, they will be subject to a brand new Medicare tax on their "unearned income."

Starting in 2013, 3.8 percent a Medicare contributions tax will be imposed on the lesser of (1) the taxpayer's net investment income, or (2) any excess of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over $200,000 ($250,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly). Thus, all single taxpayers with MAGI over $200,000 and married taxpayers with MAGI over $250,000 will be subject to this tax. This is a small proportion of the population, but a significant one for the real estate industry.

Yes. But, in the case of the sale of a principal residence that qualifies for the special tax exclusion on such income, it would apply only if the net gain from the sale exceeds the $500,000 exclusion for joint filers or $250,000 for singles, and then only to the extent that taxpayer's income exceeds the $200,000/$250,000 MAGI threshold.

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